Still putting the final touches on your Fall and Winter duds? Check out my two newest style articles for SheKnows.com (just click on either image!):

Plaid: The Must-Have Print

and

Patent Leather: Reign of Shine

There is a season for everything, whether it be jobs, relationships, or hair styles.

In the past week, it seems all those around me are having such change thrust upon them (in several cases by blindside) in this, the season of Thanksgiving, a time when we are all supposed to be finding things in our life that is already there to be thankful for. A time of happiness (and pie).

My own world has been a little topsy-turvy of late, which can sometimes encourage one to lose faith in the structure of their societal universe. After all, as Katharine Hepburn said, “Life is hard…” (extra credit if you can finish that quote).

Before going all drama-aly though, I decided to consult my Indra ego reading, and engage in a little self-discovery:

SUN IN SAGITTARIUS
Although you are overly blunt at times, you have a basic sense of honesty and a lightheartedness which gives the ability to connect with lots of different people. Your overview of life makes you particularly prone to accurate projections. You consciously strive to obtain freedom through self-understanding. … You are very quick to react and your spontaneity can be pointing to a lack of sincerity. You learn a lot by consciously reexamining your motives and methods.

MERCURY IN SAGITTARIUS
Your mind naturally moves toward the big picture. You are always looking “over the hills and far away”. You are independent in thought while honestly thinking that you are the mainstream standard of life. You think you are “telling it like it is” but the truth of the matter is you are telling it like “it ought to be”. There is a moralizing, impulsive and propagating side of whatever you assert. You usually miss details that others feel important, but the breadth of your vision and the joy and lightheartedness of your attitude encourages people to be open to what you say. When you adjust to new circumstances in life, you do so briefly, always holding onto the picture of how things should be. Your vision improves when you are able to face how things really are without discarding your values.

The stars do not lie, and thus, I feel oddly comforted–somewhat. What is worse? To not get the picture, or for others simply not to get you? I.E.: Would you prefer to misunderstand, or be misunderstood (in chaos that is existence)?

I do not know. And so, I open the floor for debate.

One of the biggest fallacies of having a cool gadget is the liklihood of dropping/scratching/stepping-on/puppy pooping on.

And so, protection, as with all parts of life, is a must-have!

I’m loving BodyGuardz - they are awesome for protecting your gadgets - whether they be an iPod, BlackBerry, MacBook, or gaming system, from scratches. Designed to custom fit each particular product, these full body protectors are made from the same material that is used to protect the front of automobiles from stones and other abrasive elements!

Certainly your nails/keys in your bag are no force against it!

I read one review that described this as applying the “bra concept” to your iPod, and it’s totally true! Each kit includes a set of transparent scratch-proof films that have been cut to precisely fit around particular sections of your designated device, as well as a water-based solution in a small spray bottle to apply the film and a ‘Squeegee’ to remove excess bubbles if necessary.

Once successfully applied, like a good bra, you will barely be able to notice that the BodyGuardz now covers your gadget. You will however have the benefit of a nearly invisible scratch-proof protection and also better grip thanks to the natural anti-slip properties of the film.

Yay for being klutz-proof!

There’s nothing like getting something for nothing!

Check out EBates.com, which my dear friend Allie, just reminded me existed.

Ebates is a shopping site that gives you up to 25% Cash Back every time you shop online - places you are already shopping!!! You can shop at over 800 stores including Barnes & Noble.com, Gap, and Urban Outfitters. Plus you get additional savings with exclusive coupons, free shipping offers, and limited-time sales!

Plus, right now, JUST for signing up - no purchase necessary - you win a $10 gift card to a selection of stores, like Sephora or Best Buy or Target!

Plus if you sign up with Ebates today, you get a $5 bonus when you make your first purchase!

Click here to sign up:
http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?id=33835834

(Psst: If they ask for the email address that referred you, say ME! alywalansky@gmail.com - I love free stuff.)

The lead story today on SheKnows.com is a story I wrote a few months ago on the hottest of girl gadgets. Keep it in mind when doing your holiday shopping this weekend!

http://www.sheknows.com/articles/shopping/7994.htm 

Thanksgiving is over, Black Friday is here, and Cyber Monday closely approaching - thus we are on the prowl for the best in deals, savings, door busters.

Black Friday is often hailed as one of the busiest shopping days of the year — however, it is also associated with sleeping in front of stores hours in advance, long line-ups, body checking passersby, overcrowded stores, and an overall stressful shopping experience. In other words, it is the beginning of a month of hell.

I’m liking FabulousSavings.com — they are taking some of the stress out of bargain shopping by offering an alternative to the hectic shopping experience by compiling online lists of shopping offers and presenting coupons for the hottest products. According to Hitwise, consumers are seeking online Black Friday deals for popular products such as Playstation 3, iPod, and Uggs. FabulousSavings.com is updating fabulous online savings from hundreds of retailers like Best Buy and Circuit City as they occur. The savings officially commence at 12:01 am on November 23, 2007, being continually updated all day long.

***

FabulousSavings.com Tips for Alleviating Black Friday Shopping Stress
———————————————————————

1. Plan ahead and research. Do preliminary online research for the best
deals around using entrusted coupon sites as
http://fabuloussavings.com/blackfriday.

2. Wake up early. Some of the best deals are offered online early in the
morning.

3. Shop smart. Use coupon codes to maximize the amount of savings and
deals that are redeemable.

4. Shop online. Black Friday deals are available online on a first come,
first serve basis allowing consumers to save in the comfort of their
home and avoid in store hassles.

If all else fails on Black Friday and consumers do not find what they are looking for, do not worry - we get a second chance for bargain shopping on Cyber Monday: http://fabuloussavings.com/cybermonday.

Have you spent the evening gluttonizing to your heart’s content?

Tomorrow, you may be headed out to one of those sunrise-madness sales (bring your road armor!), and be tempted to grab a donut on the run. Do that and you will be well on your way to the Decmeber-15. Not so sexy for your New Year’s frock.

Grab a meal on the go with this quick and easy (and healthy!) smoothie from the South Beach Diet recipe book.

Mango Smoothies!!!

Prep time: 10 minutes
4 servings

Ingredients
2 mangoes, peeled, pitted, and diced
1 1⁄2 cups sugar-free vanilla fat-free or low-fat yogurt
Ice cubes

Instructions
Purée mangoes in blender.Add yogurt and 4 or 5 ice cubes; blend until thick and smooth, about 30 seconds.

Pour into glasses and serve.

Nutritional Information:
140 calories
0 g fat
0 g saturated fat
4 g protein
30 g carbohydrate
1 g dietary fiber
50 mg sodium

Just in case you missed my screen debut a few weeks ago (which you can check out here: http://www.sheknows.com/videos/love-and-sex/170.htm), I did a little walk-through of Babeland, showcasing my all-time favorite (sex) toys.

Near the top of that list was the OhMiBod.

Ladies, recall those moments when you find yourself out at a hot concert, or dancing at a nightclub - you let your body move in tune with the music, allowing the the pulse to throb through you as your nerve-endings come alive with rhythm of the beat.

OhMiBod is pretty much exactly that, except you control what you hear, what you feel, and do it all from the comfort of your bedroom.

Certainly gives new meaning to the concept of a play list!

I’ve discussed this little piece of toy magic before in my blog, and it led to one of our most fun, popular contests in this column’s history. And so, in tune with the season of giving, I thought it was high time to revisit this toy - and invite you all to enter to win one of your own. In fact, I am giving three away!

It is a fact that music and sex go hand in hand, and it was inevitable that the OhMiBod would come to be - it’s the world’s first insertable music-driven vibrator which utilizes advanced microchip technology to sync with your iPod (or any mp3 player), and let you feel the music as you never have before. Depending on the type of the tune you play, the vibration will vary. The fun is in the experimentation (uh, foreplay?).

Do you want to win one of your own? There’s three out there! View my video link above, and:

1 - Share three tips you learned while viewing the video segment

2- In the video, I tell you my favorite tune to play on my own OhMiBod. Tell me what that tune is - and if you win, what tunes you think will rock it out the best.

Best three answers by Monday, Nov. 26 win!

PS: Seek the vibe, but lack the iPod??? Interesting. Check back next week.

In honor of Thanksgiving, I bring you classic dialogue from my all-time favorite TV series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Anya on Thanksgiving: I love a ritual sacrifice.
Buffy: It’s not really a one of those.
Anya: To commemorate a past event, you kill and eat an animal. It’s a ritual sacrifice, with pie.

(Recipes and images courtesy of our friends at Gothamist)

There are many things that get us in the holiday spirit. But none of them work as nicely as stiff cocktail. Being that Thanksgiving is the official kick-start to festive season, it seems only right to welcome it with a beverage that will put some color in our cheeks and some jolly in our step.

Cranberry Martinis
1 cup (8 fl oz/250 ml) vodka
1/4 cup (2 fl oz/60 ml) dry vermouth
1/2 cup (4 fl oz/125 ml) cranberry juice
8 cranberries, frozen
4 lemon zest twists

Wet 4 martini glasses and place them in the freezer to chill for at least 30 minutes. Fill a cocktail shaker half full with ice. Add the vodka, vermouth and cranberry juice. Cover with the lid and shake vigorously for about 10 seconds. Strain into the chilled glasses. Garnish each glass with 2 cranberries and a lemon twist.

Turkey Kiss
½ cup spiced rum
3/4 cup cranberry juice cocktail
¼ cup triple sec
Maraschino cherries

Shake rum, cranberry juice and triple sec with crushed ice, strain into martini glasses, top with cherries.

There is no fighting the holidays from here on out. Our reality will be wrapping paper cuts, centerpiece arrangements and elastic-waist pants. Might as well embrace it and enjoy it, one sip at a time.